We are in the process of building a house and have 10”x10” rough sawn cedar columns on the front and back porch. We loved the natural color of them when they were first installed. For some unexplainable reason, and without any direction from us, the painter bleached all of the columns, and they are now a dull grayish white color (see before and after pics). Is there anything we can do to restore the original color without staining?
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Spit on the wood and that’s probably the best you’ll get with a clear coat.
What did the painter say?
I haven't asked his opinion on it...I don't really trust him at this point. Is there some sort of penetrating oil sealer or something that will darken it up without adding sheen? We don't want any sort of finish that is shiny.
It does darken back up when it's wet from the morning dew, if that gives any insight.
I’d try to get some scrap and experiment before I settled on anything. Bleach as he would have and then go at it. There are several clear coats that are flat or satin. Might even add some light “tan” or whatever colorant to get it close. Remember that over time and amount of sun could change that look you achieve now.
Have you consulted with a GOOD paint store? Old guys sometimes have a good memory.
And, when you add a base around the bottom (trim) all wood shrinks and expands in width, not length. So the grain running horizontally of that trim will open up mitres . Nothing worse than that showing up down the road.
Hopefully there’s a good seal on the columns end grain down on the bottom of the posts.
Are you doing anything with the slab? Looks like some brick or stone is meant to go around the edge?
Try to come back and finish out this thread, might help those down the road and best of luck!
I will definitely keep everyone updated. Yes, there is meant to be a brick "ribbon" around the perimeter of the porches. My wife is not fond of the gray look color that cedar gets as it ages naturally, so I'm leaning toward TWP100, as it claims to "preserve wood from turning gray." It seems to have a great reputation. I know I'll have to re-apply occasionally, but I'm ok with that. Any experience with this product?
No experience with it.
The correct answer is that the painter is responsible to pay for the replacement of the cedar columns ,materials and labor.
Bleach can damage wood, especially if not done correctly. The painter needs to be held responsible. Make sure it’s in writing so if and when the posts fail, he or she will be paying for repairs. They may have seen some mold and thought they were doing a favor. Also, if you’ve hired a GC - that’s the one I’d take everything up with and of course in writing.
I would make sure all the bleach is out of the wood and then dry. I would then try some teak oil, marine grade. Though I often use Grandpa’s recipe of BLO and turpentine or mineral spirits. They make wooden handles tools a warm brown without sheen except for the oils off your hands. You might also reach out to the people at Fine Woodworking, they have a good number of finishing pros.
Why on earth would the post fail? Bleach isn't going to hurt it.
Wood is made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Lignin binds the cells. Bleach can destroy the lignin if not used properly which in effect weakens the wood. Bleach when used incorrectly can also form crystals that make it almost impossible to get a good adhesion of paint or stain.
Here’s an article from the FPL https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/labnotes/?p=4368 on using bleach though it is on siding and not posts, cedar has the same properties with both.
I read the report and the operative word is "can." It also didn't say bleach turns cedar white so there is more to this than meets the eye. I've washed at least 10,000 houses in the past 40 years, lots with cedar siding, and never had anything that looks like the OPs example. I just don't think bleach was responsible.
Are you sure bleach did that? I've sprayed miles of cedar with bleach and none of it has ever changed color. Did the painter tell you that? Could it be cheap, latex primer?
Any chance the bleaching or whatever is superficial and could be sanded off with say 40 grit paper that would still retain a bit of the rough sawn look?